 Abide in Christ.
1 John 3:18-24 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever obeys his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. John is calling the people claiming to be Christians and gathering as the Body of Christ to not love with “lip service” love, but to love with “life service” love. Saying we love someone is easy, but proving our love by our actions takes Holy Spirit power. Anyone can say “l love you”, but the person who says “I love you” and means it, follows his words with actions. When a person expresses love by actions he reassures his heart before the Lord. The person’s actions validate his words of love. Our sinful heart will condemn us, that is, say we do not truly believe, but our actions shout out that we have repented of our sin and believed the gospel. Saving faith does the works that the Lord prepared beforehand for us to walk in. The works we do validate our salvation and give us confidence before God. People, who truly believe in Jesus Christ, love one another in word and deed because they desire to obey Jesus’ command, “Love one another” (John 13:34-35). Two things reveal to a person the genuineness of his faith:
We know we are abiding in Christ when we obey His commands. If we are abiding in Christ we will receive what we ask. May you abide in Christ. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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 Known by Love.
1 John 3:11-15 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Jesus taught His followers to love one another, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) People with saving faith desire to obey the teachings of Jesus. A true disciple of Jesus will attempt to love people expecting the Lord to fulfill his attempt with power. How do we express love? The Apostle John states how in 2 John 1:6, “And this is love that we walk according to (obey) His commands.” Love goes far beyond feelings and can be expressed if a person’s feelings are not loving. People with saving faith will express love to all people by faith in Jesus. People either follow the ways of the world or the ways of Jesus. The world hates Christians for two reasons:
People who hate and experience no sorrow that leads to repentance are of the world and are not true disciples of Jesus Christ. If a person does not attempt by faith to express love to all people, then that person is physically alive, but spiritually dead. John states it very clearly in terms all understand - hate equals murder and an unrepentant murderer does not have eternal life with Jesus. We express love for all people by obeying the commands of Christ. We are not to express love only when we feel loving, but we are to express love even if we feel hateful toward someone. Expressing love when we feel hate is not hypocritical, but loving. Why? Love is expressed by our acts of love done in obedience to the commands of Christ. (Note: The characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7are verbs, action words). May you choose love. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 3:4-10 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. The key statement that sums this passage of truth is in verse 10, “By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil." People are ruled by God, the Creator of the universe, or by Satan, the rebel archangel who was cast out of the presence of God and now is called the god of this age. There is no between. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Facts of life:
In today’s world, many claim to be Christians, but are sinning with no repentance, claiming God’s grace covers their sin. These people have a grace that condones sin. True grace forgives our sin, but moves us to obey the Lord. True grace is grace to obey. All sinners are saved by grace, not by works. All saved people desire to obey, attempt to obey by faith and repent when they disobey. “Christians” who have no desire to obey and make no attempt to obey the Lord by faith in Jesus, need to examine themselves to see if they really are children of God (2 Corinthians 13:5). The evaluation given by John in our passage today, 1 John 3:4-10, will give any person an accurate determination if he has saving faith or mere intellectual assent that Jesus lived and died on the cross. May you have a desire to obey Jesus. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Do you see how much the Father, the One true God, loves you? He chose you to be His child and forgave your sin by sending His Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Dying for a sinful person is an expression of the greatest love. God the Father loves each of His children with the greatest love. Each of us who have repented of our sins and believed the gospel are His children. The world does not recognize us as the children of the One true God because the people of the world do not know Him. John rightly calls the children of God “Beloved”. We need to call God’s children “Beloved” and remember that is what we are, His beloved child. As God’s children we await a new body that will replace this physical body infected by sin and appointed to die. We do not know what our new body will look like, but do know it will be like the body Jesus has when He returns for us. Our certain hope is that we will be free from the propensity to sin when Jesus returns and removes us even from the presence of sin. Each of us who has this hope of a new body free from sin purifies himself now even as Jesus is pure, that is as Jesus is free from sin. How do we purify ourselves from sin while we wait for Jesus’ sure return? We first recognize the need to purify ourselves by acknowledging we have sinned. We then need to repent of our sins, confess them to the Lord Jesus and receive His cleansing from all unrighteousness. After we are cleansed then we need to live by faith in Jesus. We live by faith by learning His word, attempting to live according to it while expecting Him to fulfill our attempt with His power. How does this passage of scripture say believers are to daily live? How are you daily living? As you compare how you are daily living with how God’s word says you are to daily live, what changes or growth do you need to make? After you identify the changes or growth, begin to make the changes by faith in Jesus. Do not quit until the changes have become a part of your life. Remember, you are what God the Father calls His children, "BELOVED." May you know you are God's beloved and live like it today. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:28-29 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. How do we abide or continue in Jesus Christ? The Apostle John instructs us how we abide in Christ in 1 John 3:24. We abide, remain, continue, or live in Jesus if we obey His commands. Abide, remain, continue and live all translate the same Greek word. When Jesus taught His disciples to obey everything He commanded, He was teaching them and us how to teach disciples to abide in Him. If we obey His commands, then we will have confidence and not shrink in shame when He comes again for us. Jesus first equips us to obey before He commands us to do anything. When a person repents of his sin and believes the gospel, he receives the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The promised Holy Spirit motivates us and gives us the power to obey the word of God (Ezekiel 36:27). The power we receive is the power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20) and is the power that is able to do far beyond what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). We access that power by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). Only people who are born again (who have repented of their sins and believed the gospel) can practice righteousness as a lifestyle. Living obedient to the commands of Christ is living righteously (Romans 6:16). Are you abiding in Christ? Another way to ask the question is, "Are you obeying the commands of Christ?" Jesus gave some direction to His disciples right before He ascended, "Go make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you..." Check out this sweet resource for you called "The Commands of Christ." It has many of the commands of Jesus listed for you. Ultimately obeying the commands of Jesus lead to loving God and loving people. Instead of shouts of anger soon you will have shouts of joy and laughter in your home. At least this is what I am working toward more and more each day. We all want more of that right? Are you teaching your family and those in your sphere of influence to abide in the Lord Jesus Christ? This is not optional any more than providing food and other material needs on a daily basis is optional. If you are not, make abiding and teaching your family to abide a priority. Start by talking about Jesus together and reading the Bible, maybe go through one command a night or a week together out of "The Commands of Christ" ebook. It can be super simple over breakfast, in the car, at dinner, or even bedtime. Children love it. It does take being intentional, but soon it will be just like riding a bike. May you abide in Jesus today. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:18-27 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us- eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything- and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you- abide in him. The Apostle John states it is the last hour. Does he mean a sixty minute period of time? No. He means we are in the last stage of redemptive history. Jesus has already come to redeem or buy us out of sin and eternal torment (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus has promised to come again to redeem our physical bodies and environment (Romans 8:23). While we wait for Jesus’ physical return to rule for 1000 years over a renewed earth (Revelation 20:1-4; Isaiah 11:1-16), deceivers will come, rising up from among the people of God (Acts 20:23; 1 John 2:19). These people teach what is false and deny Jesus is the Christ and that Jesus Christ came in the flesh (1 John 4:2). Jesus, Himself, warned us that antichrists would come to deceive even true believers if that were possible and of course it is not possible (Matthew 24:24). John explains why it is impossible for antichrists to deceive true believers in this passage of scripture in verses 20 and 27. Every true believer has received an anointing from God that teaches us about everything. Jesus tells us in John 14:26 that He is going to send the Holy Spirit to be in every believer to teach the truth and remind of the truth. The anointing we have received that teaches us everything is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal the false teaching of the antichrists. The antichrists will be in the midst of true believers, but will leave them and seek to take as many as they can with them. The Holy Spirit will keep true believers from being deceived. John states that true believers do not need anyone to teach them, yet he is teaching the Church. What does he mean, “You have no need for anyone to teach you”? The Holy Spirit takes what truth is taught by people and reveals it to the people who are true believers (1 Corinthians 2:12). The unbeliever will think the truth taught is foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14). When a true believer encounters the teaching of the antichrists, he will discern the teaching is false because of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him. The antichrist will separate himself from true Christians and yet claim to speak the truth. The antichrist is a deceiver. We need to follow John’s example and teach the truth to all in our sphere of influence, beginning with our family and extending to our relatives, associates and neighbors. The true believers will receive the truth because the Holy Spirit is teaching them. The unbeliever will follow the antichrists. True Christians believe Jesus is God, who came in the flesh to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins for all who repent of their sins and believe the gospel. May you know the truth. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Jesus’ words in John 14:21 gives us insight into the meaning of what the Apostle John writes to the Church. John 14:21, "Whoever has my commandments and obeys them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Our devotional text and John 14:21 translate the word “love” from the same Greek word “agape”. When we love Jesus, we express that love by obeying Him. If we love the world, or “this present evil age” as Paul calls the world in Galatians 1:4, then we express that love by obeying the dictates of the sinful world. Love for Jesus gives us the desire to obey Him. Love for the world gives us the desire to live according its sinful ways. Love for Jesus and love for the world cannot coexist. 1 John 2:16 tells us that what the world desires is contrary to what God desires. Paul states this clearly in Galatians 5:17, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh….” Our material possessions are tools to be used to accomplish the eternal will of God, which is good, pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2). The desires of the flesh and eyes and taking pride in possessions will not give us a full life, but will leave us empty. All our needs will be met as we seek first His rule and righteousness in our life (Matthew 6:33 - material needs; Galatians 5:22-23 - life needs; John 3:16 - eternity needs). If we learn the Word of God and practice the Word of God, then we will not love the world and will experience the love of the Father that yields fullness of life. May you abide forever in love. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:12-14 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Verses 2:1, 12 teknon (Greek) 'child, offspring,' can refer to a person of any age for whom there is a special relationship of endearment and association - 'my child, my dear friend, my dear man, my dear one, my dear lad.' The context determines the nuance of meaning. In this passage, John uses the word “teknon” as a word of endearment for the Christians he is writing to. The Apostle John is writing to the entire Church addressing them as “children” or “my dear friends”. John desires the Church to know that their sins are forgiven in Christ for His name’s sake. Jesus is completely loving and completely just. In order for Him to be forever with the people He loves, Jesus paid the penalty for their sins by dying on the cross to satisfy His justice. All who receive His pardon from their sins by repenting of their sins and believing the gospel (Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9) can be with Jesus forever. John then writes to the fathers (grown ups), young men (the Greek word John uses identifies a child over the age of puberty), and children (the Greek word used is “pideon”, not “teknon”; pideon means a child under the age of puberty). John wants us to know he is addressing all in the Church – adults, almost adults, and children. What he says to each applies to all. The believers in the Church know Jesus, who is from the beginning. In Revelation 1:8 Jesus is identified as the One “who is and who was and who is to come.” John writes to believers who have overcome the evil one by faith in Jesus (see Hebrews 2:14-15). John writes to believers who know the Father (see John 14:7 where Jesus states that if we know Him, we know the Father). John writes to believers who are strong and have the word of God abiding in them. As we look at the believers of all age groups in our local church, would John say the above to them? Each father and mother is to make sure their household knows God (God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) and is able to overcome evil the evil one by faith in Jesus. Each household needs to be strong and have the word of God abiding in them. Each elder in the local church is to make sure his local church knows what John writes in verses 12-14 above. Evaluate your family and local church. What needs to be done to be able to write to them as John writes to the Church in 90s AD? Check out this free family tool to help you. May you help your family and sphere of influence meet, know and follow Jesus. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:7-11 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. The Apostle John calls the people he is writing to “Beloved.” What do we call the people in our family? John was writing to remind his beloved people an old commandment they have known from the beginning. This commandment is also a new commandment given by Jesus. The commandment John is referring to is in Leviticus 19:18b, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus gave His followers the second greatest commandment to follow, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). He also told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another” (John 13:34). Loving our neighbor is not optional, it is a command. All of Jesus’ commands benefit all people. Loving people is living in the light and proves a person is a true believer in Christ. A person who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness of sin. The person loving his brother lives in the light and does not stumble. The person hating his brother walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going because no one can see in the darkness. The test for genuine Christianity is loving people. The Apostle John instructs us later in the letter that we express love for people by obeying Jesus’s commands (1 John 5:2). Real Christians are revealed by their love for people. Real Christians express their love by obeying Jesus’ commands. When Jesus commanded us to teach disciples to obey His commands, He was commanding us to teach disciples how to love people. In John 13:14-17 Jesus commands us to serve one another and tells us that we will be blessed doing so. Serving one another is one way true Christians express love to people and prove their faith is genuine. When we obey Jesus' commands everyone around us wins. This is true love. You are never more like Jesus than when you give and serve. May you choose love. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever obeys his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Many people claim to be Christians. Some are deceived and are on the broad road that leads to destruction. No person can know another person’s heart, but a person can ask an insightful question to help a deceived person know the truth. The Apostle Paul asked each person in the Corinthian local church to examine themselves and to test themselves to determine if they were truly a Christian or if they were Christian in name only. The test is this: “Do I have a desire to obey the Lord’s commands?” The Apostle James instructs us that faith without obedience to God’s will is dead. Faith that saves us from sin’s penalty and power is characterized by obedience. When a person repents of his sin and believes the gospel, the Holy Spirit of promise begins to dwell in Him. Ezekiel 36:27 instructs us the Holy Spirit will move us to obey the Lord. True Christians gain a desire to obey the Lord. When they disobey, they are grieved, repent and confess their sin to the Lord. They receive His forgiveness and are cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then they begin again to obey His commands by faith. Many people who claim to be Christians do not desire to obey the Lord and conform to the ways of this present evil age. People who truly desire to obey Jesus Christ are to follow Paul’s example and challenge those who call themselves “Christians” to test themselves and see if they have a saving faith. I like to ask, "What is the most loving thing I can do for this person in this circumstance?" It is loving to 'challenge' or 'lovingly confront' someone to ensure they are saved. Do you believe this is a good thing to do? A loving thing to do? I know this is a very hard thing to do. Sadly, many times it is done without love. May you love people enough to confront sin and ask good questions. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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